Liverpool had a Boxing Day to remember with an impressive 3-1 win away to Aston Villa - before some big breaking transfer news.
Hours after sealing the vital away victory, it was confirmed that agreement had been reached with PSV for Cody Gakpo.
The 23-year-old forward is set to sign in the January window. The ECHO understands an initial fee will be around the £37m figure, with add-ons likely to take that beyond £40m.
Last night's result leaves the Reds sixth in the table, five points off the top four.
Here is what the national media had to say about the win at Villa and the arrival of Gakpo...
Mike McGrath in the Telegraph on the Villa win:
After spending much of the last six weeks playing on the training pitch at Al Wakrah Sports Complex, it took Trent Alexander-Arnold just five minutes to make his mark on his return from the World Cup and send Liverpool on their way to a third successive Premier League victory.
With players rushing out of the penalty area after a cleared corner, the Liverpool full-back was the only person at Villa Park who saw Andrew Robertson’s run behind Aston Villa’s defence. And only Alexander-Arnold could find the pass, executed with the outside of his boot to offer enough fade to land the ball on his team-mate’s toes.
Klopp had not experienced Christmas outside the Champions League places since his first season at Liverpool and his players are taking strides towards getting back to the top table.
Chris Bascombe in the Telegraph on Cody Gakpo:
Liverpool have gazumped Manchester United to agree a deal for Dutch international Cody Gakpo for an initial £37 million
The surprise Anfield move was confirmed by PSV Eindhoven on Monday evening after talks were finalised for the 23-year-old attacker. A medical has been pencilled in to take place on Merseyside over the next 48 hours with Gakpo becoming a Liverpool player on January 1. Once the formalities are concluded, the fee could rise to a £50 million package.
In securing a deal, Jurgen Klopp is inflicting a major setback to United and their coach Erik ten Hag, who had made Gakpo a prime target and seemed to be confident of agreeing terms.
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Ben Fisher in the Guardian on the Villa win:
This was not a vintage Liverpool performance by any stretch but there were glimmers of sparkle as they dispatched Aston Villa and put their foot back on the accelerator in pursuit of the top four.
Mohamed Salah got the ball rolling, equalling Kenny Dalglish’s goalscoring mark for Liverpool in almost double-quick time before Virgil van Dijk increased Liverpool’s first-half advantage. Villa deservedly replied through Ollie Watkins but a composed finish by the 18-year-old substitute Stefan Bajcetic for his first Liverpool goal left the away support rattling through their version of a Christmas classic. “Merry Christmas, Everton!” they sang in celebration.
When Darwin Núñez was withdrawn for Ben Doak, a 17-year-old given his league debut with a couple of minutes to spare, there were high-fives all round on the Liverpool bench. It was a satisfying return to business.
Andy Hunter/Fabrizio Romano in the Guardian on Cody Gakpo:
Liverpool have agreed a deal with PSV Eindhoven over the transfer of the Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo that could rise to £50m, from an initial £37m.
Gakpo scored in each of the three group games for Louis van Gaal’s side at the World Cup and has attracted widespread interest after his impressive performances in Qatar. The 23-year-old had been strongly linked with Manchester United, where the manager, Erik ten Hag, is a confirmed admirer, while Newcastle were interested last summer.
The player’s representatives had reportedly met the Old Trafford club. Liverpool, however, joined the race and made rapid progress in negotiations with PSV, who had intended to keep their homegrown talent until the end of the season.
Tom Collomosse in the Daily Mail on the Villa win:
Jurgen Klopp's warning for his team could not have been clearer. ‘When you are Liverpool you have to qualify for the Champions League,’ he said. ‘We would suffer for a year watching others play.’
Though this win took Liverpool within five points of the top four with a game in hand, the jury remains out on whether they can close it and hold off their rivals for the rest of the campaign.
They showed that when their attack is firing, there are few sides as dangerous. They could easily have scored five or six in this one. The problems begin when the ball is at the other end.
Simon Jones in the Daily Mail on Cody Gakpo:
Liverpool have agreed a €50million (£44m) deal with PSV Eindhoven for striker Cody Gakpo.
The clubs held talks on Monday night as Liverpool moved to head off competition from Manchester United.
United had instigated talks but were still to finalise a financial offer and Liverpool have taken advantage, with PSV confirming that a deal had been reached between the two clubs.
Paul Gorst in the ECHO on the Villa win and Cody Gakpo
That was the moment for the away end to cherish one of their heroes of yesteryear as the name Steven Gerrard echoed all around the away end. It was sung, clearly, as a playful jab towards the home crowd given the legendary Liverpool captain's stint as the Villans' manager before Unai Emery took over. It was a point that will not have been lost on those in the Holte End.
How vital this win is in the grand scheme of things won't really be known for some time, but after fourth-place Tottenham had stumbled earlier in the day at Brentford, this was the ideal way to turn the pressure up further on those above the Reds in the table. It was as hard fought as ever in this part of Birmingham, but boy it will have felt good.
With three points safely in the bag, the coveted Champions League places now just four points away and the arrival of £37m Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, the season could be about to be viewed in an entirely new, more flattering light.
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